By Gloria Ogbonna
On Friday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s The Story, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker shed light on President Donald Trump’s strategy for pushing Russian President Vladimir Putin toward direct negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Whitaker emphasized that Trump is not operating on a fixed timeline but will instead allow “as much time as he thinks is necessary to create the right situation” for talks to occur.
Host Gillian Turner pressed Whitaker on the matter, noting that nearly two weeks had passed since Trump publicly called on Putin to sit down face-to-face with Zelensky. “No word as of yet,” Turner said, before asking, “How much longer do you think President Trump is going to give him?”
Whitaker responded by outlining Trump’s flexible approach, one that balances diplomatic patience with mounting economic and military pressure.
“Well, obviously, President Trump is going to give him as much time as he thinks is necessary to create the right situation,” Whitaker explained.
Military and Economic Pressure on Moscow
Whitaker pointed to Trump’s ongoing military and economic support for Ukraine as part of the leverage being applied against Russia.
He highlighted the billion dollars in arms sales already delivered directly to Ukraine, as well as additional weaponry flowing indirectly through NATO partners.
According to Whitaker, the United States is now selling “about a billion dollars a month” in military equipment via NATO allies, ensuring that Ukraine continues to strengthen its defense capabilities while also developing more offensive options.
Those deeper strike capabilities, Whitaker noted, have already proven effective: “They’ve already taken out about 20% of Russia’s oil refining capacity in the last month,” he said, underscoring the growing strain on Moscow’s economic lifelines.
Beyond the battlefield, Trump has applied broader pressure on Russia’s allies. Whitaker pointed to new sanctions on India that took effect this week, restricting purchases of Russian oil. The measures, he suggested, are beginning to shift global energy trade patterns away from Moscow.
“India is most likely going to change their behavior on buying Russian oil,” Whitaker stated. “So, President Trump knows all the cards he has still left to play.”
Balancing Pressure With Diplomacy
Despite these efforts, Whitaker cautioned that negotiations are unlikely to materialize instantly. “Is it going to happen overnight? Most likely not,” he said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that Trump remains committed to keeping both Putin and Zelensky engaged in the process. “He understands that he needs to keep Vladimir Putin at the table, as well as Zelensky at the table. And we’ll see,” Whitaker added.
The ambassador concluded on an optimistic note, emphasizing that the very fact that dialogue continues even indirectly is a sign that diplomatic efforts are moving in the right direction. “I think we’re on the right path, and both sides are still talking, and that is a good thing,” he said.
A Delicate Balancing Act
Whitaker’s remarks reflect the Trump administration’s broader strategy: combining hard economic sanctions and military aid with careful diplomatic maneuvering.
By maintaining pressure on Russia’s economy and military operations while encouraging talks, Trump is seeking to create the conditions for a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky that could move the conflict closer to resolution.
For now, the timeline remains open-ended—but, as Whitaker emphasized, the administration believes it is steadily applying the right mix of pressure and diplomacy to bring both leaders to the table.
Source Breitbart